School class sizes in Georgia have increased as districts struggle with funding cuts and falling tax revenue.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Saturday that about 80 percent of Georgia's 180 school districts approved plans to surpass class size caps last year.

The newspaper reports Georgia cut $4.7 billion in school funding between 2008 and 2012 and gave districts permission to exceed class size caps, which were implemented before the recession to try improving student performance.

As funding for schools declined, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission says the state lost about 10 percent of its educators while the student population grew by about 3 percent.

State School Superintendent John Barge says increasing class sizes is a problem with educators trying to teach a more rigorous curriculum.